104

January 26, 2009

A fever of 104 plus a day full of diarrhea is no fun at all. I’m home this Monday, lying in bed because yesterday I had a super high fever, achy bones and joints, and many unwanted trips to the bathroom. So far the nurse seems to think it is some sort of bacterial infection, as my fever has come down and been fluctuating around 100 since I started taking cyprofloxacin meds. She said my fever probably wouldn’t have come down that much if it weren’t bacterial; but I’m supposed to keep her posted.

Since I’ve been in Cambodia, I can honestly say that I don’t remember the last time I’d had a fever. The last time I had had the flu, was in the 8th grade, and needless to say – I think I have a pretty tough stomach – as I just don’t get nauseous very often.

But man 104 is no fun. I was tossing and turning and lying in bed, feeling very achy and cold and I couldn’t get comfortable, and had a harsh headache. I guess I hope it’s bacterial and that these meds will take care of it. Apparently somewhere along the way (if it is bacterial), I ate something that was bad or contaminated. I was in Siem Reap all weekend, and sometimes you just have to wonder if the Khmer people working at the western restaurants truly know how to prepare, and properly take care of western foods such, let’s say, cheese. The majority of people don’t own refrigerators in this country and I’m not always positive the concept of not keeping dairy products out for a long time is engrained in their heads. I spose I’m speculating a little bit as maybe dairy wasn’t it at all. I guess it could’ve been a bad batch of ice. Or maybe it was food not cooked well enough at the wedding. Who knows? Will’s not sick – so that’s good. But man; none of this is very fun.

There is a concern for malaria or dengue fever, but since my fever has gone down, we don’t think it’s one of those. Again – I’m still monitoring myself.

Oh well. Hope for the best. I guess I’ll look at the positive side and be thankful I have a day to catch up on writing, reading, watching grey’s anatomy on my computer and the few other things that I can do while lying in my bed, under the mosquito net with the fan on me. Sigh.